Who is Laura Richardson?

Lieutenant General Laura Richardson was appointed deputy commander of the United States Army Forces Command in June 2017, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

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Laura J. Richardson is a Lieutenant General in the army of the United States of America. In June 2017, she was appointed deputy commander of the United States Army Forces Command becoming the first woman to hold the position.

Early Life

Laura hails from the town of Northglenn Colorado. The experienced soldier attended the Metropolitan State College of Denver where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in the year 1986. Laura earned her license for piloting at the tender age of sixteen, and she was also an All American swimmer. Aside from this, she was also an associate of the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps. Currently, she is wedded to a military man, Major General James Richardson. Together, the couple has one daughter.

Career

Richardson’s first commission in the military came in the year 1986 when she joined as a second lieutenant in the US Army Aviation Branch. In the 128th Assault Helicopter Company, she piloted the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter until her promotion to the rank of first lieutenant in 1988. In 1989, she switched to the 17th Aviation Brigade in the position of an assistant logistics officer where she worked for her nation in South Korea. Between 1990 and 1991, she commanded the HQ company of the fourth battalion until her promotion to captain.

Between 1991, she served in several positions in the army including attending the Aviation Officer Advanced Course at Fort Rucker, 1st battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment’s commander in 1992, and personnel officer at Fort Hood of the 6th Cavalry Brigade. The veteran also did some training at Fort Leavenworth in the Battle Command Training Program, some learning at the Army Command and General Staff College for a year, in 1997 she got promoted again to the position of operations officer, and finally to an executive officer of the ninth battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment.

Richardson has also worked as the military advisor to a sitting Vice President, Al Gore, from 1999 to 2001. After several positions and promotions, she was promoted to brigadier general in 2011, and then later on taking senior roles in Afghanistan before returning to the states.

In June 2017, she made history after being confirmed as the first female officer to hold the rank of a Lieutenant General of the US Army. Senate appointed her to replace the retiring Lieutenant General Patrick Donahue II.

Major Contributions

Richardson’s major contributions to the US and the US Army may be obtained by looking at her history as a senior officer. Ranging from working as the commanding general of support at Fort Hood for the 1st Cavalry Division to her work in Afghanistan as the deputy chief of staff, communication at the International Security Assistance Force, and now the deputy commander of the US Army. The role will commence in early July where she will report to Fort Bragg to begin work in the new capacity.